U.S. patent application number 11/795774 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-22 for metabolic syndrome-improving agent and medicine, supplement, functional food and food additive containing the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to ARKRAY, Inc.. Invention is credited to Takao Sasaki.
Application Number | 20080119417 11/795774 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36692352 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080119417 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sasaki; Takao |
May 22, 2008 |
Metabolic Syndrome-Improving Agent and Medicine, Supplement,
Functional Food and Food Additive Containing the Same
Abstract
A metabolic syndrome relieving agent that is free from a problem
of side effects and can be taken for a long term is provided.
Aurapten is used as an agent for relieving a metabolic syndrome.
Since aurapten has functions of activating PPAR.sub..alpha. and
PPAR.gamma., promoting the secretion of adiponectin in adipocytes
and inhibiting the generation of VLDLs in hepatic cells, it is
possible to prevent or treat diseases such as insulin resistance,
hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes, obesity, visceral fat obesity,
hypertension, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis and the like and thus
prevent or treat the metabolic syndrome. Also, as understood from
the fact that citrus fruits such as a hassaku orange, a sweet
summer orange or the like containing aurapten have been eaten for
many years, they have no problems in terms of safety and have a low
calorie content, and therefore, they can be taken for a long term.
Further, since aurapten is tasteless and odorless, it does not
impair the unique taste of a food when added to this food, so that
it can be added to foods and taken.
Inventors: |
Sasaki; Takao; (Kyoto,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HAMRE, SCHUMANN, MUELLER & LARSON, P.C.
P.O. BOX 2902
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0902
US
|
Assignee: |
ARKRAY, Inc.
Kyoto-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
36692352 |
Appl. No.: |
11/795774 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
January 20, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2006/300859 |
371 Date: |
July 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
514/27 ;
514/456 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61Q 19/00 20130101;
A61P 17/06 20180101; A61P 9/12 20180101; A61P 37/08 20180101; A61K
2800/92 20130101; A61K 36/752 20130101; A23L 33/105 20160801; A61P
5/48 20180101; A23V 2200/328 20130101; A23V 2200/304 20130101; A23V
2200/318 20130101; A23V 2200/326 20130101; A23V 2002/00 20130101;
A61P 35/00 20180101; A23V 2002/00 20130101; A61P 29/00 20180101;
A61P 17/02 20180101; A61K 31/37 20130101; A61P 3/08 20180101; A61P
43/00 20180101; A61P 3/06 20180101; A61P 9/10 20180101; A61P 3/00
20180101; A61P 3/04 20180101; A61P 17/12 20180101; A61P 1/16
20180101; A61K 8/498 20130101; A61P 17/00 20180101; A61P 3/10
20180101 |
Class at
Publication: |
514/27 ;
514/456 |
International
Class: |
A61K 31/7048 20060101
A61K031/7048; A61K 31/353 20060101 A61K031/353 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 21, 2005 |
JP |
2005-014386 |
Mar 7, 2005 |
JP |
2005-062868 |
Claims
1. An agent for relieving a metabolic syndrome, comprising
aurapten.
2. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the metabolic syndrome
comprises at least one disease selected from the group consisting
of insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes,
hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, obesity and visceral
fat obesity.
3. The agent according to claim 1, which activates a peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR).
4. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the PPAR is at least one
of a PPAR.alpha. and a PPAR.gamma..
5. The agent according to claim 1, wherein the aurapten is derived
from at least one selected from the group consisting of a fruit, a
fruit juice and a peel of a citrus fruit.
6. The agent according to claim 5, wherein the citrus fruit is
selected from the group consisting of a sweet summer orange, a
hassaku orange, a Watson pomelo and a grapefruit.
7. A drug for preventing or treating a metabolic syndrome, the drug
comprising the agent according to claim 1.
8. A supplement for preventing or relieving a metabolic syndrome,
the supplement comprising the agent according to claim 1.
9. A functional food for preventing or relieving a metabolic
syndrome, the functional food comprising the agent according to
claim 1.
10. A food additive for preventing or relieving a metabolic
syndrome, the food additive comprising the agent according to claim
1.
11. A PPAR activator comprising aurapten.
12. An adiponectin secretagogue comprising aurapten.
13-15. (canceled)
16. A method for relieving a metabolic syndrome, comprising
administering aurapten to a mammal.
17. A PPAR activating method comprising activating a PPAR with
aurapten.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a metabolic syndrome
relieving agent, and drugs, supplements, functional foods and food
additives containing the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] For the past several years, the concept of metabolic
syndrome has been expounded by WHO (the World Health Organization)
as well as the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) in the
United States. The metabolic syndrome is the state in which various
diseases causing arteriosclerosis, for example, visceral fat
obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperlipemia, hypertension,
etc. cluster together, so that angina pectoris, myocardial
infarction or the like occurs easily. It is considered that the
metabolic syndrome is ascribable to visceral adiposity and
hypertrophic adipocytes.
[0003] The following two mechanisms have been revealed as how the
visceral adiposity is associated with the development of diabetes,
hyperlipemia, hypertension or the like. One is the mechanism in
which a large amount of glyceride accumulated in visceral fat is
decomposed in the fasting state, and a large amount of free fatty
acid and glycerol, which are products of the decomposition, are
released and flow in excess into the liver, leading to
hyperlipemia, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinism. The other is the
mechanism in which the visceral adiposity causes abnormal
adypocytokine secretion, which inhibits the secretion of
adiponectin, for example, so that diabetes, arteriosclerosis or the
like occurs (for example, see Non patent document 1). It has been
revealed that the adiponectin activates a peroxisome
proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) .alpha. and AMP kinase so as
to promote fatty acid burning or the like, thus decreasing the
content of neutral fats in tissue and thereby, for example,
relieving the insulin resistance or the like. Further, there has
been a report that, besides the above, the adiponectin has
antidiabetic, anti-arteriosclerotic, antihypertensive and
anti-inflammatory effects.
[0004] On the other hand, PPARs, which are intranuclear receptors,
are said to be associated with the relief of insulin resistance,
hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes as well as obesity, hypertension,
hyperlipemia and arteriosclerosis. PPARs are known to have three
types, i.e., .alpha., .delta. and .gamma., and several subtypes.
PPAR.sub..alpha. is expressed mainly in the hepatic cells and also
in other cells such as myocardial cells and gastrointestinal cells,
and concerned with fatty acid oxidation, ketogenesis and
apolipoprotein generation. Although PPAR.delta. is not considered
to have tissue specificity and is expressed throughout the body, it
is expressed notably in large intestinal cancer cells. PPAR.gamma.
can be classified into two subtypes, i.e., type .gamma.1 and type
.gamma.2. The type .gamma.1 is expressed in adipose tissues, immune
system tissues, the adrenal gland and the small intestine, whereas
the type .gamma.2 is expressed specifically in adipocytes and plays
an important role in differentiation induction of the adipocytes
and fat synthesis.
[0005] The number of patients afflicted with the metabolic syndrome
tends to increase mainly in developed countries. Accordingly, there
is an urgent need for a metabolic syndrome relieving agent that has
excellent safety and can be taken over a long term.
Non patent document 1: Yuji MATSUZAWA, "Concept of Metabolic
Syndrome and Molecular Mechanism," The Journal of Therapy, November
2004, Vol. 86, No. 11, pages 011-016.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
metabolic syndrome relieving agent that is free from a problem of
side effects and can be taken for a long term.
Means for Solving Problem
[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an agent for
relieving a metabolic syndrome according to the present invention
contains aurapten. The metabolic syndrome includes diseases, for
example, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes,
hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, obesity, visceral fat
obesity and the like.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0008] From the viewpoints of side effects and long-term intake,
the inventor of the present invention conducted a series of studies
mainly on substances contained in food. In the course of the
studies, the inventor found that aurapten contained in citrus
fruits had functions of activating PPAR.sub..alpha. and
PPAR.gamma., promoting the secretion of adiponectin in adipocytes
and inhibiting the generation of very low-density lipoproteins
(VLDLs) in hepatic cells, thus arriving at the present invention.
In other words, according to the metabolic syndrome relieving agent
of the present invention, since the PPAR activation promotes fat
burning so as to inhibit the secretion of TNF.alpha. and free fatty
acid, the state of adipocytes can be normalized, thus making it
possible to prevent or treat diseases, for example, insulin
resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes, obesity, visceral fat
obesity, hypertension, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis and the like.
Also, the metabolic syndrome relieving agent according to the
present invention promotes the secretion of adiponectin in
adipocytes so as to promote fatty acid burning and PPAR.alpha.
activation, thereby normalizing the state of adipocytes, and
suppresses endangiitis or the like, thereby preventing LDLs from
being taken into blood vessels, for example. Consequently, this
also makes it possible to prevent or treat diseases, for example,
insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes, obesity,
visceral fat obesity, hypertension, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis
and the like. Further, since the metabolic syndrome relieving agent
according to the present invention inhibits the generation of VLDLs
in hepatic cells so as to suppress an increase in neutral fats, it
is possible to prevent or treat diseases, for example, hyperlipemia
and the like. In this way, since the metabolic syndrome relieving
agent according to the present invention can prevent or treat the
above-described diseases, for example, by being administered to a
human and mammals other than the human, it is considered to have an
excellent effect of relieving a metabolic syndrome.
[0009] Moreover, citrus fruits, for example, a hassaku orange, a
sweet summer orange, a Watson pomelo and a grapefruit, containing a
large amount of aurapten have been eaten for many years and
confirmed in terms of safety. Also, aurapten has a low calorie
content and, in this regard, does not cause any problem even if it
is taken by a diabetic patient, an obese patient or the like for a
long term. Further, since aurapten is tasteless and odorless, it
does not impair the unique taste of a food or the like when added
to this food, so that it can be added to foods and taken daily over
a long term, for example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a graph showing a PPAR.gamma. ligand activity of
aurapten in an example of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a graph showing a PPAR.sub..alpha. ligand activity
of aurapten in another example of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a graph showing adiponectin mRNA expression
amounts by aurapten in yet another example of the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 4. a graph showing an adiponectin secretion promoting
effect of aurapten in the above-noted example of the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a graph showing a VLDL secretion inhibiting effect
by aurapten in yet another example of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The metabolic syndrome relieving agent according to the
present invention has the functions of activating a PPAR, promoting
the secretion of adiponectin in adipocytes, inhibiting the
generation of VLDLs in hepatic cells, inhibiting the secretion of
TNF.alpha. and free fatty acid in adipocytes and promoting .beta.
oxidation of fat in hepatic cells, for example. The PPAR to be
activated is at least one of PPAR.sub..alpha. and PPAR.gamma., for
example, and preferably is both of them. Further, the metabolic
syndrome relieving agent according to the present invention induces
at least one of apoptosis, differentiation and shrinkage of an
adipocyte, for example. It should be noted that the metabolic
syndrome relieving agent according to the present invention may
contain various additives other than aurapten, and further may
contain other components having a PPAR activating function, for
example.
[0016] In the metabolic syndrome relieving agent according to the
present invention, the aurapten to be used is not particularly
limited, and examples thereof include those derived from citrus
fruits. In particular, aurapten derived from a fruit juice, that
derived from a fruit and that derived from a peel are preferable,
and only one of or a combination of two or more of them may be
used. Examples of the citrus fruits can include a sweet summer
orange, a hassaku orange, a Watson pomelo, a grapefruit and the
like. The aurapten may be a product obtained by isolation and
purification from the above-noted citrus fruits or may be a
commercially available product, for example.
[0017] Next, a drug according to the present invention is a drug
for preventing or treating a metabolic syndrome, and the drug
contains the metabolic syndrome relieving agent according to the
present invention. The drug according to the present invention is
administered to a human and mammals other than the human, thereby
making it possible to prevent or treat diseases, for example,
insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipemia,
arteriosclerosis, hypertension, obesity and visceral fat obesity.
The drug of the present invention may contain not only the
metabolic syndrome relieving agent according to the present
invention but also other components having a PPAR activating
function and pharmaceutically acceptable additives, for example. In
the drug according to the present invention, examples of its
specific dosage form can include tablets, fine grains (including
pulvis), capsules, solution (including syrup) and the like. The
drug according to the present invention can be manufactured by
using an additive or a base, etc. that is suitable for the
respective dosage form as necessary according to a regular method
described in the Pharmacopoeia of Japan or the like. Also, a route
of administration is not particularly limited but can be, for
example, an oral administration or a parenteral administration.
Examples of the parenteral administration can include intraoral
administration, tracheobronchial administration, intrarectal
administration, subcutaneous administration, intramuscular
administration, intravenous administration and the like.
[0018] Now, a supplement according to the present invention is a
supplement for preventing or relieving a metabolic syndrome, and
the supplement contains the metabolic syndrome relieving agent
according to the present invention. The supplement according to the
present invention is taken by a human and mammals other than the
human, thereby making it possible to prevent or relieve diseases,
for example, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes,
hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, obesity and visceral
fat obesity. The supplement of the present invention may contain
not only the above-mentioned metabolic syndrome relieving agent
according to the present invention but also various additives,
other supplements and the like, for example, other components
having a PPAR activating function, various vitamins such as vitamin
C, amino acids and oligosaccharides. The supplement according to
the present invention may be in any form without particular
limitation, which can be, for example, tablets, fine grains
(including pulvis), capsules, solution (including syrup) or the
like.
[0019] Next, a functional food according to the present invention
is a functional food for preventing or relieving a metabolic
syndrome, and the functional food contains the metabolic syndrome
relieving agent according to the present invention. The functional
food according to the present invention is taken by a human and
mammals other than the human, thereby making it possible to prevent
or relieve diseases, for example, insulin resistance,
hyperinsulinism, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis,
hypertension, obesity and visceral fat obesity. The functional food
of the present invention may contain not only the above-mentioned
metabolic syndrome relieving agent according to the present
invention but also various additives and the like and may contain,
for example, other components having a PPAR activating function.
Incidentally, the functional food according to the present
invention may be in any form without particular limitation, which
can be, for example, noodles, confectionery, functional drinks or
the like.
[0020] Now, a food additive according to the present invention is a
food additive for preventing or relieving a metabolic syndrome, and
the food additive contains the metabolic syndrome relieving agent
according to the present invention. The food additive according to
the present invention is taken by a human and mammals other than
the human, thereby making it possible to prevent or relieve
diseases, for example, insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism, type 2
diabetes, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis, hypertension, obesity and
visceral fat obesity. The food additive of the present invention
may contain not only the above-mentioned metabolic syndrome
relieving agent according to the present invention but also various
additives and the like and may contain, for example, other
components having a PPAR activating function. The food additive
according to the present invention may be in any form without
particular limitation, which can be, for example, liquid, paste,
powder, flakes, granule or the like. Moreover, the food additive
according to the present invention includes, for example, food
additives for drinks.
[0021] Next, a PPAR activator according to the present invention
contains aurapten. The PPAR activator according to the present
invention also may contain components other than aurapten. Examples
of the above-noted other components include various additives,
other PPAR activators and the like. The aurapten that can be used
in the PPAR activator according to the present invention is similar
to that in the above-described metabolic syndrome relieving agent
of the present invention.
[0022] The PPAR activator according to the present invention can be
used for relieving the metabolic syndrome and treating a dermatosis
or the like, for example. Examples of the dermatosis include the
skin of premature infants of gestational age less than 33 weeks;
atopic and seborrheic dermatitis; inflammation to mucous membranes,
such as cheilitis, chapped lips, nasal irritation and
vulvovaginitis; eczematous dermatitis resulting from allergic and
irritant contact, eczema craquelee, radiation and stasis
dermatitis; ulcers and erosions due to chemical or thermal burns,
bullous disorders or vascular compromise or ischemia including
venous, arterial, embolic or diabetic ulcers; ichthyoses, with or
without an associated barrier abnormality; epidermolysis bullosa;
psoriasis; hypertrophic scars and keloids; intrinsic aging and
dermatoheliosus; mechanical friction blistering; corticosteroid
atrophy; and melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer, including
lignin melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma,
actinic keratoses, and virally induced neoplasia (warts and
condylomata accuminata). When the PPAR activator according to the
present invention is used for treating a dermatosis, it may be in
any form without particular limitation, which can be, for example,
a lotion, a solution, a gel, a cream, an emollient cream, an
ointment, a spray or other forms that can be applied locally.
[0023] Next, an adiponectin secretagogue according to the present
invention contains aurapten. The adiponectin secretagogue according
to the present invention may contain components other than
aurapten. The aurapten that can be used in the adiponectin
secretagogue according to the present invention is similar to that
in the above-described metabolic syndrome relieving agent of the
present invention.
[0024] The adiponectin secretagogue according to the present
invention can be utilized for relieving the metabolic syndrome,
treating a chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis, or the
like, for example. This is because the adiponectin secretagogue
according to the present invention can inhibit liver fibrosis in a
chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis, for example. The
adiponectin secretagogue according to the present invention can be
in any form without particular limitation, which can be, for
example, drugs, supplements, functional foods or food
additives.
[0025] Now, a use according to the present invention is a use of
aurapten for manufacturing a metabolic syndrome relieving agent.
Another use according to the present invention is a use including
administering aurapten to a human and mammals other than the human
for relieving a metabolic syndrome. Yet another use according to
the present invention is a use of aurapten for manufacturing a PPAR
activator. The aurapten can be similar to that in the
above-described metabolic syndrome relieving agent of the present
invention. Examples of the above-noted mammals include a mouse, a
rat, a rabbit, a dog, a cat, a cow, a horse, a swine, a monkey and
the like.
[0026] Now, a method for relieving a metabolic syndrome according
to the present invention is a method including administering
aurapten to a human and mammals other than the human. The aurapten
that can be used in the relieving method according to the present
invention is similar to that in the above-described metabolic
syndrome relieving agent of the present invention. In the relieving
method according to the present invention, the aurapten to be
administered can be in any form without particular limitation,
which can be, for example, tablets, fine grains (including pulvis),
capsules, solution (including syrup) and the like. Also, a method
of administration is not particularly limited but can be, for
example, an oral administration or a parenteral administration.
Examples of the parenteral administration can include intraoral
administration, tracheobronchial administration, intrarectal
administration, subcutaneous administration, intramuscular
administration, intravenous administration and the like.
[0027] Next, a PPAR activating method according to the present
invention is a method including activating a PPAR with aurapten. In
the PPAR activating method according to the present invention, it
is preferable that the PPAR is activated by bringing the aurapten
into contact with an adipocyte or the like, for example. The
aurapten that can be used in the activating method according to the
present invention is similar to that in the above-described
metabolic syndrome relieving agent of the present invention.
[0028] Now, it is preferable that the aurapten in the present
invention is manufactured from a material such as citrus fruits as
described earlier. The following is a description of an example of
this manufacturing method (JP 11 (1999)-29565 A).
[0029] First, a peel of a citrus fruit is soaked in water at room
temperature and then centrifuged, thus obtaining a peel oil.
Although the peel may be replaced by a fruit, a pulp or a fruit
juice, the use of the peel is preferable because of the large
aurapten content thereof.
[0030] Subsequently, an adsorbent is allowed to adsorb the peel
oil. The adsorbent preferably is a porous adsorbent that is
electrically neutral and has a large specific surface, and can be a
resin containing a copolymer of styrene and divinylbenzene, for
example. Also, considering increasing the amount of adsorption to
achieve an efficient aurapten purification, it is preferable that
the resin used as the adsorbent is used under dry conditions.
[0031] The adsorbent that has adsorbed the peel oil is washed with
an alcohol aqueous solution, thereby removing impurities adsorbed
to the adsorbent. The alcohol concentration of the alcohol aqueous
solution is, for example, lower than 50% (volume ratio), preferably
10% to 45%, and more preferably 35% to 45%. The above-noted alcohol
can be, for example, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol or the like, and
preferably is ethanol when purified aurapten is used as food
additives and preferably is isopropyl alcohol when it is used as
drugs. Further, the amount of the alcohol aqueous solution
preferably is about 14 times (volume ratio) that of an
aurapten-containing solution adsorbed to the adsorbent, for
example, though not limited particularly.
[0032] Then, aurapten is eluted from the adsorbent using an alcohol
aqueous solution. Since this eluate contains aurapten, it may be
used as it is or may be used after being concentrated or dried.
Thus obtained aurapten substantially is white, tasteless and
odorless. The alcohol concentration of the alcohol aqueous solution
is, for example, 50% to 95%, preferably 60% to 90%, and more
preferably 75% to 85%. The alcohol aqueous solution and its amount
to be added are similar to those described above.
[0033] Now, examples of the present invention will be described. It
should be noted that the present invention is not limited to these
examples.
EXAMPLE 1
[0034] As described in the following, the present example confirmed
the activation of PPAR.gamma. by aurapten.
[0035] CV-1 cells (cultured cells derived from kidneys of male
African green monkeys) were implanted on 24-well culture plates so
as to be 0.2 .mu.g/well and cultured at 37.degree. C. in 5%
CO.sub.2 for 24 hours. As a medium, DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle
Medium; manufactured by GIBCO) containing 10% FBS (fetal bovine
serum) and a 10 mg/mL penicillin streptomycin solution was used.
Using the Lipofectamine system (trade name; manufactured by
Invitrogen Corporation), pM-hPPAR.gamma. and p4.times.UASg-tk-luc
were transfected. The above-noted pM-hPPAR.gamma. was a chimeric
protein-expression plasmid binding GAL4 gene (amino acid sequence
1-147) and human PPAR.gamma. ligand-binding site gene (amino acid
sequence 204-505), whereas the above-noted p4.times.UASg-tk-luc was
a reporter plasmid containing four copies of a responsive element
(UAS) of GAL 4 upstream of a luciferase gene. About 24 hours after
the transfection, samples of aurapten at respective concentrations
(0.1, 1.0, 10, 50 and 100 .mu.M) were added to the above-described
media, followed by 24 hour incubation. The above-noted samples were
prepared by dissolving aurapten in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).
Instead of the aurapten, DMSO was added to non-treated control
media. After the incubation, measurement was made using a
Dual-Luciferase Reporter Gene Assay system (trade name;
manufactured by Promega Corporation).
[0036] Similarly to the measurement group, as a control group, pM
(a plasmid from which PPAR.gamma. ligand-binding site gene was
removed) was used for measurement instead of pM-hPPAR.gamma.. For
each sample, the ratio between average luminescence intensities of
the measurement group and the control group (n=4) (measurement
group/control group) was calculated, and an activity relative to
the non-treatment control was determined as the PPAR.gamma. ligand
activity of the sample. Table 1 below and the graph of FIG. 1 show
the results.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Addition concentration PPAR.gamma. ligand
activity Non-treatment (0.1%) 100 control (DMSO) Aurapten 0.1 .mu.M
128 .+-. 8.5 1.0 .mu.M 113 .+-. 6.9 10 .mu.M 146 .+-. 17.0 50 .mu.M
245 .+-. 56.1 100 .mu.M 641 .+-. 84.2 (average .+-. standard
error)
[0037] As becomes clear from Table 1 and FIG. 1 mentioned above,
the aurapten improved the activity of PPAR.gamma. such that the
PPAR.gamma. activity increased along with the concentration of
aurapten.
EXAMPLE 2
[0038] As described in the following, the present example confirmed
the activation of PPAR.sub..alpha. by aurapten.
[0039] The PPAR.sub..alpha. ligand activity of aurapten was
measured similarly to Example 1 except that pM-hPPAR.sub..alpha.
was used instead of pM-hPPAR.gamma. and the aurapten concentrations
were set to 0.1, 1.0, 10, 50 and 80 .mu.M. Table 2 below and the
graph of FIG. 2 show the results.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Addition concentration PPAR.alpha. ligand
activity Non-treatment (0.01%) 100 control (DMSO) Aurapten 0.1
.mu.M 234 .+-. 39.4 1.0 .mu.M 139 .+-. 38.3 10 .mu.M 302 .+-. 98.2
50 .mu.M 409 .+-. 27.8 80 .mu.M 1052 .+-. 232.9 (average .+-.
standard error)
[0040] As becomes clear from Table 2 and FIG. 2 mentioned above,
the aurapten improved the activity of PPAR.sub..alpha. such that
the PPAR.sub..alpha. activity increased in keeping with the
concentration of aurapten.
EXAMPLE 3
[0041] As described in the following, the present example confirmed
the promotion of adiponectin secretion by aurapten.
[0042] (Differentiation Induction of Preadipocyte)
[0043] First, the following two kinds of media were prepared.
Differentiation Induction Medium (0.25 .mu.M DEX, 0.5 mM MIX, 10
.mu.g/mL Insulin/10% FBS/DMEM)
[0044] 55 mL of FBS (fetal bovine serum (manufactured by GIBCO))
was added to 500 mL of DMEM (manufactured by SIGMA) so as to
prepare 10% FBS/DMEM. To this 10% FBS/DMEM, 138.75 .mu.L of 1 mM
DEX (dexamethasone)/DMSO (manufactured by Nacalai Tesque, Inc.) and
555 .mu.L of 10 mg/mL insulin/PBS (manufactured by SIGMA) were
added. Incidentally, the insulin/PBS was obtained by adding 1 N HCl
to PBS in advance so as to make the solution acidic enough to allow
insulin dissolution and then dissolving insulin. MIX
(3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine) (manufactured by Nacalai Tesque,
Inc.) was added to a necessary amount of the above-described medium
immediately before use in such a manner as to achieve 0.5 mM,
thereby preparing a differentiation induction medium. Since MIX was
very difficult to dissolve, it first was dissolved in a small
amount of 99.5% ethanol and then added to 10% FBS/DMEM. At this
time, an adjustment was made so that the final concentration of
99.5% ethanol did not exceed 1%.
Differentiation Promotion Medium (5 .mu.g/mL Insulin/10%
FBS/DMEM)
[0045] A differentiation promotion medium was prepared by adding
277.5 .mu.L of 10 mg/mL insulin/PBS to 555 mL of 10% FBS/DMEM.
[0046] Next, culture preadipocytes 3T3-L1 were thawed, inoculated
in a 100 mm dish and cultured until 3T3-L1 cells reached about 80%
confluence. A single dish of 10T1/2 that had reached about 80%
confluence was subcultured to a single 6-well plate and further
cultured until the 3T3-L1 cells reached confluence in the 6-well
plate, and then the medium was replaced with the differentiation
induction medium, followed by differentiation induction. 48 hours
later, the medium was replaced with the differentiation promotion
medium, and thereafter, the medium was replaced with the
differentiation promotion medium every two days. 7 days after the
initiation of the differentiation induction, mRNA was extracted
using Sepasol.RTM.--RNA I super (manufactured by Nacalai Tesque,
Inc.), and the mRNA expression amounts of 36B4, aP2 and
adiponectin, which were indicators of an early period of adipocyte
differentiation, were measured using Light Cycler.TM.. Also, the
medium 7 days after the differentiation induction was taken in an
amount of 1 mL from each well, and the amount of adiponectin in the
medium supernatant was measured using a mouse/rat adiponectin ELISA
kit (trade name) (manufactured by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd.).
[0047] (Quantitative Determination of mRNA Using Light
Cycler.TM.
[0048] Extraction and Quantitative Determination of Total RNA
[0049] The medium was removed from the above-described 6-well
plate, 1 mL of Sepasol.RTM.--RNA I Super (manufactured by Nacalai
Tesque, Inc.) was added to each well, and pipetting was repeated
several times so as to disperse the cells. This solution was
transferred to a 1.5 mL tube and allowed to stand for 5 minutes at
room temperature, and then 200 .mu.L of chloroform was added,
stirred well with a vortex stirrer and allowed to stand for 3
minutes at room temperature. The solution was cooled to 4.degree.
C. and centrifuged at 12000.times.g for 15 minutes. While taking
great care not to disturb an interface between a phenol layer (a
lower layer, yellow) and a water layer (an upper layer, colorless),
the water layer alone was transferred to another tube (with a
capacity of 1.5 mL). At this time, care was taken not to take
proteins floating between these layers. 500 .mu.L of isopropanol
was added to the tube and mixed and allowed to stand for 10 minutes
at room temperature. The solution was cooled to 4.degree. C. and
centrifuged at 12000.times.g for 10 minutes, followed by removing
about 1 mL of the supernatant. To this precipitate, 1 mL of 75%
ethanol was added and stirred to suspend the precipitate
sufficiently, and then cooled to 4.degree. C. and centrifuged at
12000.times.g for 10 minutes, followed by removing the supernatant.
The resultant precipitate (total RNA) was dried and then dissolved
in 20 .mu.L of nuclease free water, thus measuring the
concentration of mRNA using Nanoprop (manufactured by SCRUM
Inc.).
[0050] Reverse Transcription
[0051] The extracted and measured mRNA solution was adjusted to
have an mRNA concentration of 1 .mu.g/1 .mu.L of Oligo dT primer
and 10 .mu.L of the above-described RNA solution were added to
8-tube strips (with a capacity of 0.2 mL). The mixture solution was
incubated in a Thermal cycler at 70.degree. C. for 10 minutes so as
to destroy higher-order structures of RNA, and transferred onto the
ice and allowed to stand for at least 1 minute. Then, 11 .mu.L of
RNA sample/primer mixture solution, 5 .mu.L of 5.times.reverse
transcription buffer, 1 .mu.L of RNase inhibitor, 5 .mu.L of 2.5 mM
dNTP Mix and 2 .mu.L of Nuclease Free water were added in this
order (24 .mu.L in total).
[0052] After pre-incubation at 42.degree. C. for 5 minutes in the
Thermal cycler, 1 .mu.L of reverse transcriptase was added, and the
content of the tube was mixed well by pipetting. After incubation
at 42.degree. C. for 50 minutes and further incubation at
70.degree. C. for 15 minutes in the Thermal cycler, the content was
cooled on the ice and centrifuged mildly so as to collect the
reaction solution to the tube bottom, and then frozen and stored at
-20.degree. C. Every time it was used for the Light Cycler.TM.
measurement, it was diluted by 10 times.
[0053] Measurement Using Light Cycler.TM.
[0054] All the operations described below were carried out in a
clean bench. 5 mL of a plasmid solution containing fragments of the
gene whose expression amount was to be measured was poured in a
0.65 mL tube and diluted by 10 times with 45 mL of water attached
to a Light Cycler.TM. DNA Master SYBR Green (trade name). By
repeating these operations, 10.sup.2-time, 10.sup.3-time,
10.sup.4-time, 10.sup.5-time, 10.sup.6-time, 10.sup.7-time and
10.sup.8-time diluted solutions were produced, respectively. A
dedicated capillary was set into a Light Cycler.TM. Centrifuge
Adapter (trade name) using tweezers, and 18 .mu.L each of the
above-noted reagent was dispensed thereto. Further, 2 .mu.L of
water (negative control) or the 7-step diluted solution (standard)
and 2 .mu.L of 10-time diluent of cDNA serving as a measurement
sample were added, and a lid was placed using tweezers. After
centrifugation at 5000 rpm at 4.degree. C. for 10 seconds, the
capillary was mounted on a carousel, which then was set in a
chamber and measured.
[0055] (Measurement of Adiponectin Secretion Amount Using
ELISA)
[0056] The above-mentioned mouse/rat adiponectin ELISA kit had the
following configuration.
Stock solution for washing
Stock solution for diluting analyte
Antibody plate (anti mouse adiponectin polyclonal antibody (rabbit)
solid phase plate)
[0057] 8.0 ng/mL standard product (recombinant mouse
adiponectin)
Biotin labeled antibody solution (biotin labeled anti mouse
adiponectin polyclonal antibody (rabbit))
Enzyme-labeled streptavidin stock solution (HRP-labeled
streptavidin)
Enzyme-labeled streptavidin diluent
Substrate solution A (3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine)
Substrate solution B (hydrogen peroxide)
Reaction stop solution
[0058] First, the following reagents and analyte solution were
prepared.
Washing Solution
[0059] The above-noted stock solution for washing and purified
water were mixed in a ratio of 40 mL to 960 mL and stored at
2.8.degree. C.
Analyte Diluent
[0060] The above-noted stock solution for diluting analyte and
purified water were mixed in a ratio of 50 mL to 200 mL and stored
at 2.8.degree. C.
Standard Solution
[0061] The above-noted 8.0 ng/mL standard product was diluted in
two steps with the above-described analyte diluent, thus preparing
standard solutions having a concentration of 4.0 ng/mL, 2.0 ng/mL,
1.0 ng/mL, 0.5 ng/mL and 0.25 ng/mL.
Enzyme-Labeled Streptavidin Solution
[0062] The above-noted enzyme-labeled streptavidin diluent and the
above-noted enzyme-labeled streptavidin stock solution were mixed
in a ratio of 12 mL to 60 .mu.L.
Substrate Solution
[0063] The above-noted substrate solution B and the above-noted
substrate solution A were mixed in a ratio of 6 mL to 6 mL.
Analyte Solution
[0064] Using the above-described analyte diluent, the supernatants
of cultures to which control and ligand candidate were added
respectively were diluted by 25 times, and the supernatant of a
culture to which pioglitazone was added as positive control was
diluted by 50 times.
[0065] Only the strips of the antibody plates necessary for the
analysis were taken out. After about 200 .mu.L of the
above-described washing solution was poured to each well of the
antibody plate, the liquid in the well was absorbed and removed
completely using a plate washer. This washing and absorption were
performed once more. 100 .mu.L of the standard solutions with
respective concentrations and 100 .mu.L of the diluted analytes
were added to individual wells and measured in duplicate.
Incidentally, the standard solutions always were measured for each
measurement and each plate. After the antibody plate was covered
with a plate seal and allowed to stand still for a reaction for 60
minutes at room temperature, the plate seal was removed from the
antibody plate, followed by absorbing and removing completely the
liquid in the well using the plate washer. Subsequently, about 200
.mu.L of the washing solution was added to each well and
immediately was absorbed and removed. This washing and absorption
were repeated four more times. After 100 .mu.L of the biotin
labeled antibody solution was added to each well of the antibody
plate, the antibody plate was covered with a plate seal and allowed
to stand still for reaction for 60 minutes at room temperature.
Similarly to the above, the washing of the wells and absorption
were repeated five times. After 100 .mu.L of the enzyme-labeled
streptavidin solution was added to each well of the antibody plate,
the antibody plate was covered with a plate seal and allowed to
stand still for reaction for 60 minutes at room temperature.
Similarly to the above, the washing of the wells and absorption
were repeated five times. After 100 .mu.L of the substrate solution
was added to each well of the antibody plate and allowed to stand
still for reaction for 15 minutes at room temperature, 100 .mu.L of
the reaction stop solution was added to each well of the antibody
plate, and then the absorbance at 450 nm in each well was measured
with a plate reader.
[0066] Using the results of quantitative determination with the
Light Cycler.TM., the ratio of the respective mRNA expression
amounts of aP2 and adiponectin with respect to the mRNA expression
amount of 36B4 was calculated for each sample. The results of the
calculation are shown in Table 3 below and the graph in FIG. 3.
Also, the measurement results of the adiponectin secretion amount
using ELISA are shown in Table 4 below and the graph in FIG. 4.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Addition concentration aP2 Adiponectin
Non-treatment 100 .+-. 12.4 100 .+-. 12.4 control Aurapten 1 .mu.M
208.2 .+-. 23.4 144.5 .+-. 26.7 5 .mu.M 202.7 .+-. 19.3 161.4 .+-.
40.2 (average .+-. standard error)
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Addition concentration Secretion amount
Non-treatment 3.49 .+-. 0.78 control Aurapten 1 .mu.M 3.64 .+-.
0.82 5 .mu.M 4.69 .+-. 0.16 (average .+-. standard error)
[0067] When adipocytes cultured in the differentiation induction
medium to which aurapten was added and adipocytes cultured in the
non-treated control medium were compared, the addition of aurapten
was found to enhance the secretion of adiponectin in the
adipocytes.
EXAMPLE 4
[0068] As described in the following, the present example confirmed
the inhibition of VLDL secretion by aurapten.
[0069] (Cell Culture)
[0070] FCS, a non-essential amino acid, sodium pyruvate and a
glutamine solution were mixed such that the final concentrations of
the FCS, the non-essential amino acid, the sodium pyruvate and the
glutamine solution respectively were 10%, 1%, 1 mM and 2 mM, and
added to an MEM medium (manufactured by SIGMA). They were mixed
aseptically on a clean bench. In a 100 mm/Collagen-Coated Dish
(trade name, manufactured by Iwaki Glass Works, Co.), the medium of
HepG2 cells (human hepatic cells) that had been cultured to 80% to
90% confluence was removed with a pipette and washed with 2 mL of
1.times.PBS. After adding 2 mL of trypsin-EDTA and rotating the
above-noted dish slowly so that trypsin-EDTA spread over the entire
cells, this trypsin-EDTA was removed with a pipette. The dish was
allowed to stand still for 15 minutes in a CO.sub.2 incubator
(37.degree. C., 5%), and then 4 mL of a growth medium was added to
this dish, followed by mixing by pipetting. Then, 2 mL of this
mixture was added to each of two dishes to which 3 mL of a growth
medium was added in advance. These dishes were covered with lids
and moved crisscross so as to mix the content. The cells were
checked using a microscope (manufactured by Olympus Corporation)
and cultured in a CO.sub.2 incubator (37.degree. C., 5%). Three or
four days later, after checking that 80% to 90% confluence was
achieved using the microscope, subculture was carried out in a
similar manner, followed by cell culture.
[0071] 1. Time Course Experiment
[0072] HepG2 was cultured to reach 80% to 90% confluence, and the
medium was removed with a pipette, followed by washing with 2 mL of
1.times.PBS and addition of 5 mL of a growth medium. Every 10
hours, 200 .mu.L of the medium was collected and put into a tube
(with a capacity of 1.5 mL). Using this sample, apoB100 was
subjected to Western blotting and ELISA measurement.
(Western Blotting)
[0073] (1) SDS-PAGE
[0074] 20 .mu.L of the medium and a buffer containing 62.5 mM
Tris-HCl (pH 6.8), 2% SDS, 10% glycerol, 5%
(w/v).sub.2-mercaptoethanol and a 0.0005% BPB solution were put in
a 1.5 mL tube so as to achieve the total amount of 30 .mu.L, and
stirred well. They were boiled in a hot water bath at 100.degree.
C. for 5 minutes. An acrylamide gel containing 7.5% SDS was set in
Mini PROTEAN3 Cell (trade name, manufactured by Bio-Rad
Laboratories, Inc.), and 300 .mu.L of an electrophoresis buffer was
poured so that the gel was soaked sufficiently. The electrophoresis
buffer was prepared by diluting 30 mL of 10.times.Tris/Glycine/SDS
buffer (manufactured by Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.) with 270 mL of
dH.sub.2O. Then, 30 .mu.L of the sample and 5 mL of Rainbow Marker
(trade name, manufactured by Promega Corporation) were dispensed
quietly into the gel so as to perform electrophoresis. The
condition of electrophoresis was a constant voltage of 200 V and a
period of 40 to 45 minutes. Model 3000xi Computer Controlled
Electrophoresis Power Supply (trade name, manufactured by Bio-Rad
Laboratories, Inc.) was used as the power supply.
[0075] (2) Blotting
[0076] The gel that had been subjected to SDS-PAGE was soaked in a
transcription buffer (2.42 mg/mL Tris base, 11.55 mg/mL Glycine,
20% methanol) for 15 minutes together with a PVDF membrane (Hybond
TM-P PVDF transfer membrane; manufactured by Amersham Biosciences
K.K.) until equilibrium was reached. Using a semidry flat transfer
apparatus (manufactured by NIHON EIDO Co., Ltd.), the transcription
was performed onto the PVDF membrane by a semidry method (40
mA/membrane, 90 minutes). This membrane was blocked with 5% skim
milk (at room temperature for 1 hour). After the blocking, 5 mL of
Ms.times.Hu Apolipoprotein B (manufactured by CHEMICON
International, Inc.) that had been diluted with 5% skim milk by
1000 times was dispensed to the above-noted membrane and allowed to
react at room temperature for 1 hour. The resultant membrane was
washed with PBST three times (10 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes),
and 5 mL of anti mouse IgG-HRP (manufactured by Promega
Corporation) that had been diluted with 5% skim milk by 5000 times
was poured uniformly to the above-noted membrane and allowed to
react at room temperature for 1 hour. The membrane was washed with
PBST three times (10 minutes, 50 minutes, 10 minutes), and the
detection was carried out by a chemiluminescence method using
ECL+plus western blotting detection system (trade name,
manufactured by Amersham Biosciences K.K).
[0077] (Elisa)
[0078] First, a VLDL standard solution was prepared. The VLDL
standard solution was prepared by diluting 1.169 mg/mL of human
VLDL standard (trade name, manufactured by CHEMICON International,
Inc.) with a growth medium. The dilution factors were 100, 1000,
10000, 100000 and 1000000.
[0079] A sandwich ELISA that recognized human apoB10 in the VLDL as
an antigen was used. First, 100 .mu.L of Moab.times.LDL
Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (manufactured under MONOSAN.RTM.) was
dispensed in each well of ELISA PLATE, and the plate was sealed
with a sterile seal and then allowed to stand still at 4.degree. C.
overnight. In the following, all the dispensing mentioned is for a
single well. On the next day, 200 .mu.L of Zepto Block (trade name,
manufactured by ZeptoMetrix Corporation) was dispensed, and then
the above-noted plate was sealed and allowed to stand still for 2
hours at room temperature for blocking. Subsequently, 100 .mu.L of
the medium and the VLDL standard solution were dispensed, and then
the above-noted plate was sealed and allowed to stand still for 1
hour at room temperature. Washing with 200 .mu.L of PBST and
absorption using an aspirator were carried out five times in total.
Then, 100 .mu.L of Affinity Purified Anti-Apolipoprotein B
(manufactured by Rockland Immunochemicals, Inc.) that had been
diluted with PBS by 1000 times was dispensed and allowed to stand
still for 1 hour at room temperature. After washing similarly to
the above, 100 .mu.L of Donkey Anti-goat IgG HRP (manufactured by
Promega Corporation) that had been diluted with PBS by 5000 times
was dispensed and allowed to stand still for 1 hour at room
temperature. After washing similarly to the above, solutions A and
B of TMB Microwell Peroxidase substrate (trade name, manufactured
by Funakoshi Co., Ltd.) were mixed and allowed to stand still for 5
minutes at room temperature, and then 100 .mu.L of this mixture
solution was dispensed and allowed to stand still for 5 minutes at
room temperature. 100 .mu.L of 1M phosphoric acid solution was
added to the above-noted mixture solution, and the absorbance at
450 nm was measured using wallac ARVOsx (trade name, PerkinElmer
Life Sciences, PerkinElmer, Inc.). The mode of measurement was
Photometry (450 nm, 1.0 S).
[0080] From the result of the Western blotting of human apoB100, a
clear band was shown 20 hours or more after the start of culture.
Also, from the result of the ELISA, a linear increase in the VLDL
secretion amount was shown from the initiation of culture to about
50 hours thereafter. In view of these results, a collection time of
the medium in a VLDL secretion inhibition experiment, which will be
described below, was set to 30 hours.
[0081] 2. VLDL Secretion Inhibition Experiment
[0082] (Preparation of Medium Containing Aurapten)
[0083] Into 15 mL centrifugation tubes, 3 mL of a medium was added,
and further, aurapten was added so as to achieve final
concentrations of 10 .mu.M, 20 .mu.M and 50 .mu.M. They were
tumble-mixed to a sufficient degree, thus preparing media
containing aurapten. Also, as a control, a medium was prepared by
adding the same amount of DMSO instead of aurapten.
[0084] HepG2 was cultured to 80% to 90% confluence in a 100
mm/Collagen-Coated Dish (trade name, manufactured by Iwaki Glass
Works, Co.). The medium was removed from the above-noted dish with
a pipette and then HepG2 was washed with 2 mL of 1.times.PBS. Then,
2 mL of trypsin-EDTA was added, the above-noted dish was rotated
slowly so that the trypsin-EDTA spread over the entire cells, this
trypsin-EDTA was removed with a pipette, and the dish was allowed
to stand still for 15 minutes in a CO.sub.2 incubator (37.degree.
C., 5%). To this dish, 12 mL of a growth medium was added, followed
by mixing by pipetting, and 1 mL of this mixture solution was
dispensed in each well of Collagen-Coated Microplates 12Well/Flat
Bottom (trade name, manufactured by Iwaki Glass Works, Co.). After
the cells were checked using a microscope, the wells were cultured
in a CO.sub.2 incubator (37.degree. C., 5%) for one to two days.
After checking that 80% to 90% confluence was achieved using the
microscope, a medium replacement was carried out by removing the
medium and adding 800 .mu.L of a medium containing aurapten. Thirty
hours later, 800 .mu.L of the medium was collected from each well.
Using this collected medium, the number of living cells were
counted, and the Western blotting and the ELISA measurement were
carried out similarly to the above. From the result of the ELISA,
the ratio of the VLDL secretion amount between the measurement
group and the non-treated control group (measurement group/control
group) was calculated for each sample.
[0085] (Counting of the Number of Living Cells)
[0086] The measurement was made using CellTiter 96 Aqueous One
Solution Cell Proliferation Assay (trade name, manufactured by
Promega Corporation). First, 1.6 mL of CellTiter 96 Aqueous One
Solution Reagent and 6.4 mL of a growth medium were added to a
centrifugation tube (with a capacity of 15 mL) and stirred well.
Then, 600 .mu.L of the mixture solution was added to each well
immediately after the medium was stirred, and incubated for 40
minutes in a CO.sub.2 incubator (37.degree. C., 5%). 100 .mu.L of
this mixture solution was dispensed to each of three wells of ELISA
PLATE 96well (trade name, manufactured by Iwaki Glass Works, Co.),
and the absorbance at 490 nm was measured. The measurement was made
using wallac ARVOsx (trade name, PerkinElmer Life Sciences,
PerkinElmer, Inc.), and the mode of measurement was Absorbance (490
nm, 1.0 S). The ratio of the number of living cells between the
measurement group and the non-treated control group (measurement
group/control group) was calculated for each sample.
[0087] The results are shown in Table 5 below and the graph in FIG.
5.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Addition VLDL secretion Number of
concentration ratio (%) living cells (%) Non-treatment 100 100
control (DMSO) Aurapten 10 .mu.M 63.1 .+-. 5.31 100.3 20 .mu.M 61.6
.+-. 2.21 99.9 50 .mu.M 45.6 .+-. 4.04 98.7 (average .+-. standard
error)
[0088] As becomes clear from the results above, the VLDL secretion
was inhibited by aurapten, and the degree of inhibition increased
further as the aurapten concentration rose.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0089] As described above, since the metabolic syndrome relieving
agent according to the present invention has an excellent
PPAR.sub..alpha. activity and PPAR.gamma. activity and a function
of promoting adiponectin secretion, it is extremely effective in
relieving a metabolic syndrome and can be used as a drug, a
supplement, a functional food and a food additive for preventing
and treating diseases such as insulin resistance, hyperinsulinism,
type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipemia, arteriosclerosis,
obesity and visceral fat obesity, for example. It should be noted
that they are effective for not only humans but also other
animals.
* * * * *